Dead Man's Leap

Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery #2

by Tina deBellegarde

Rushing waters...dead bodies...secrets...

As Bianca St. Denis and her neighbors scour their attics for donations to the charity rummage sale, they unearth secrets as well as prized possessions. Leonard Marshall's historic inn hosts the sale each year, but it is his basement that houses the key to his past. When an enigmatic antiques dealer arrives in town, he upends Leonard's carefully reconstructed life with an impossible choice that harkens back to the past.

Meanwhile, when a storm forces the villagers of Batavia-on-Hudson to seek shelter, the river rises and so do tempers. Close quarters fuel simmering disputes, and Sheriff Mike Riley has his work cut out for him. When the floods wash up a corpse, Bianca once again finds herself teaming up with Sheriff Riley to solve a mystery. Are they investigating an accidental drowning or something more nefarious?

Dead Man's Leap explores the burden of secrets, the relief of renunciation, and the danger of believing we can outpace our past.

Genres: Mystery

266 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2022

About the author

Tina deBellegarde is a two-time Agatha Award nominee for her Batavia-on-Hudson Mysteries. Autumn Embers, the most recent addition to the series, takes place in Kyoto, Japan. Her short stories have been nominated for an Agatha Award and a Derringer Award. Tina co-chairs the Murderous March virtual writers conference. She enjoys reviewing Japanese fiction for Books on Asia, and is the Membership Coordinator of Writers in Kyoto. Tina travels to Japan regularly to visit her son Alessandro and to do research. She is currently working on a collection of interconnected short stories and a new series, both set in Japan. Tina’s background includes work as a library clerk, a paralegal, an exporter and eighteen years as a middle school language teacher. When she isn’t writing, she is helping her husband tend their beehives, harvest shiitakes from their mushroom logs, or tend their vegetable garden. She makes lampworked glass beads and contributes to her husband’s jewelry designs. For Tina, baking and cooking are her favorite forms of meditation.
Visit her website at www.tinadebellegarde.com

Reviews

[Anindita ლ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mystery book that win my heart.

When first time I pick up this book I have a feeling that it will be your cozy type and you should enjoy it with your afternoon tea and I was right.

This is the coziest mystery book i have read but we still get a sense of thrill, tense, curious and waiting for what will happen next. each character's personality here is really compliment to each other even some of relationship I do get confused but it's probably my lack that didn't read the first series of this book.

The slow burn pacing is very well done and the writing is really make you calm that I sometimes get sleepy but don't worry it's not taking you long.

I thoroughly enjoyed a whole book and I honestly like it when a book has a setting of a small community specially countryside and the author can successfully pull the readers in as we part of them, it's giving you a good second break from our reality

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, the second in the Batavia-on-Hudson series, and look forward to the next installment – soon, I hope. There’s a huge cast of characters again in this book, larger even than in the first, and deBellegarde does wonderfully to develop them all as individuals with their own distinctive characteristics – all flawed, but all equally interesting. The plot twists, of which there are a pleasing many, came at perfect times and kept me turning the pages. I didn’t figure out the final and most significant mystery until it appeared, and the value of that surprise was very satisfying. An entertaining and skillful continuation of her Batavia-on-Hudson series.

[Valentina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two mysteries, but the book is more about people than solving mysteries.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery set in the midst of a community atmosphere. The plot revolves around the villagers and a storm that reveals past secrets. This is a character driven mystery and it is also the characters that make the novel work. There are many relationships, some obvious but others hidden. The storm changes lives, some needing change long overdue. It all happens within a supportive community.

There are several issues explored in the plot. One is possessions. An auction is planned and villagers contribute various articles. Memories and other feelings are stimulated, a few with serious ramifications. Some people refuse to let go, whether it be an article or a relationship. And relationships is another issue. Some are so solid people would lie to preserve them. Others are fragile and in danger of crumbling.

This was a rewarding novel to read. I liked the mystery. Well, actually two mysteries, two disasters at the deadly cliff. We're left unsure about the guilt resolution of the current death so I will be looking for a sequel.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Nell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! This mystery is subtle. The writer draws you in telling the story from the perspective of several townspeople. A storm is raging and everyone has taken shelter in the community center. They are living together in one large room when a body is found. Was it a tragic accident? Or murder? Then the raging water uncovers bones. There was another death, decades ago. Sheriff Mike's search for answers unravels long-held secrets. Two mysteries for him to solve while his troubled marriage falls apart. In a small town everything is personal ... and everyone is watching.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Dead Man's Leap, book two of the Batavia-On-Hudson Mystery Series, author Tina deBellegarde transports the reader back to the tranquil Catskill Mountains lakeside village of Batavia-On-Hudson, New York, for an intriguing mystery story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

The Batavian villagers are gathering items for their annual charity rummage and auction event that will benefit the children's hospital. But when a storm hits, the villagers seek shelter from the rising flood water at the Community Center. In a small village where the villagers seem to know everything about each other, the village is also full of secrets hidden from the public eye. One never really knows what burdens each carries, what battles they are fighting, and that things are not always as they appear. Tensions grow among everyone sheltering at the center, the storm is taking its toll on them, putting them on edge. Especially when the flood waters wash up a corpse on the shores of Dead Man's Leap. Sheriff Mike Riley with the assistance of librarian and amateur sleuth Bianca St. Denis investigate a two decade old mystery that has been kept secret by some of the villagers, and maybe the storm has been a blessing in disguise that releases the villagers' burdens of past secrets.

Author Tina deBellegarde weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale that follows Sheriff Mike Riley and amateur sleuth Bianca St. Denis' investigation to uncover the truth behind the decades old mystery of the corpse found after the storm.

I loved reading this slow-building and action-packed story. I was kept intrigued by Mike and Bianca's investigation into the mystery of the corpse as they slowly put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together and uncovered the truth. The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as long hidden secrets, family dramas, a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues are uncovered. And if that's not enough, the storm also makes Bianca and Mike deal with personal issues of coming to grips with finally releasing the grief of her husband's death, and acknowledging his own crumbling marriage.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I loved reading snippets of the quirky villagers' individual secrets, and the richly vivid description of the tranquil lakeside village in the Catskills Mountains, that makes me want to take a roadtrip to the picturesque Hudson Valley region.

Dead Man's Leap has enough drama, tension, action, dark secrets, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest book review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We find ourselves in small coastal town along the Hudson River, commuting distance to NYC but without a doubt country, small, insular, quiet, charming. An annual antique auction has brought dealers to town, and townsfolk are struggling with donating to the auction items that still tug at their emotions and memories. But before the auction can take place, a series of events happen, the endless rain of recent weeks never lets up creating a flooding danger, and a couple of bodies found at the foot of Dead Man's Leap shake up the town. This is the 2nd in a cozy series by a new author, and I can't wait to read the 1st and 3rd (soon to be published), even though this has spoilers about the first in the series.

Those spoilers don't matter in the least because the murders are not the core of the story. It's the town and the towns people - relationships, secrets, history. Most of the plot has everyone camped out in the Community Center as the waters rise, putting the murder investigation into tight quarters with all the townsfolks in a stressful condition. You are there with them, helping care for the pets, trying to sleep, learning more and more about each other as the hours pass. And of course learning more and more about the bodies and the presumed murders. You grew to know and care deeply for all, and the serious life issues each struggles with - grief at loss of partner to death or divorce, bullying, loneliness, and so much more. Plus the cover art work on the series is delightful!

Oh and there is a fantastic map, list of characters, and pets with big personalties.

I found this book by accident - I was looking through award nominations for mysteries that fit some very specific Popsugar Challenge prompts and had wandered over to the Agatha Awards, awarded annually by Malice Domestic. For those unfamiliar with this less prestigious (than the Edgar) award: The Agatha Awards, named for Agatha Christie, are literary awards for mystery and crime writers who write in the traditional mystery subgenre: "books typified by the works of Agatha Christie . . . loosely defined as mysteries that contain no explicit sex, excessive gore or gratuitous violence, and are not classified as 'hard-boiled.'"[1] At an annual convention in Washington, D.C.,[2] the Agatha Awards are handed out by Malice Domestic Ltd, in six categories: Best Novel; Best First Mystery; Best Historical Novel; Best Short Story; Best Non-Fiction; Best Children's/Young Adult Mystery.

For me this nominee from 2023 caught my attention as the title fit a prompt need. Then the cover and summary assured me it was just what I was looking for - a light cozy. Well, it wasn't that light but it was so pleasurable I slowed my reading pace to wallow in it. It's an excellent reminder that taking the time to look at nominees and winners for less prominent awards can lead to reads enjoyed more than those nominees/winners. By the way, several of the other authors nominated, and their works, were very familiar to me.

I grew up in a small town (though much bigger than here - mine was the county seat!) on the edged of a mighty river. This felt authentic to me.

BWF - Letter only D

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOOSEBUMPS !!!!

While reading Dead Man's Leap, the second book in the Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery series by Tina deBellegarde you will experience a number of emotions and may at times get goosebumps !!!

There is a lot going on in Dead Man's Leap that will keep you engrossed in the story and on the edge of your seat .... and deBellegarde knows how to keep you turning the pages.

In Dead Man's Leap the quaint little village of Batavia-on-Hudson is getting ready for their annual charity rummage sale which brings a lot of people into town including antique dealers looking for some good antiques at low prices. Unfortunately a storm rolls in and one of the antique dealers goes missing when everyone else is heading to the community center to wait out the rain and wind. When there is a low in the storm a few search parties are sent out and they find the missing antique dealer dead at the bottom of the cliff of Dead Man's Leap.

Joel, the deceased antique dealer, isn't a stranger to the village and some of the people have dark hidden secrets with him that may now come to the surface with his death .... and some lives with be changed forever.

But that's not all that is going on in this story .... when Joel's body is recovered at the bottom of Dead Man's Leap, a necklace and some long buried bones are uncovered as well. And when Sheriff Mike Riley begins investigating, he listens to many confessions of a long ago story but all the versions are slightly different. Luckily Mike has Bianca to help him work through some of the stories and help him however she can.

Dead Man's Leap is a very emotion grabbing story. There is a lot going on with Joel's death, finding old bones, the village dealing with destruction from the storm, people's emotions, the relationships and the strength of some and the decline of others, the secrets, always the secrets .... but you wouldn't want it any other way !!!

[Pat Fayo Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the author’s 2nd book of her series “Batavia -on Hudson Mystery”. Though it can be read as a standalone, I think reading the first one would be very beneficial. It will give you a sense of the characters and some of the relationships. A small town village that depicts in our minds where everyone is friends and neighbors,the population is small, and everyone knows everyone. You would think,right? Well this is one mystery that is the opposite. There is a storm brewing that can be very threatening to homes, people and their possessions. In trying to stay safe the many villagers will all shelter together at their community center. This gathering of the village together and the fact that a dead body is found, can either threaten the community or build it up. We see many lies, fears, desires, love and many secrets unfold. Little by little, the secrets that have been buried from the past start to surface and will change the small village of Batavia on Hudson forever. Secrets, possessions and memories….will the stay buried or will they all come out? What will happen if all this information becomes public knowledge? I did love how the author listed all the characters and something about each one to allow me to conjure up in mind what I think they might look like. As we read the book, we can see what a tremendous job the author did with showing how tragedy can change people in the midst of it all. Intrigue and suspense was very high throughout the book but at the end, much has been revealed amongst the villagers. Ending with a celebration…. Remember, things are not always what they seem 😉

Many thanks to #partnersincrimevbt and the author, #tdb_writes for an ARC copy of this mystery fiction. I have read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Susan Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I most enjoy is the “hook” that captures my imagination and draws me into a book. In the case of Tina deBellegarde’s novel Dead Man’s Leap¸ the hook was the title itself that called to me, pulling me into a landscape shadowed by intrigue and populated with characters bound in a complicated web of love, loss, desires, fears—and secrets.

The author makes skillful use of weather to enhance the suspense as the storyline builds. When heavy rains threaten to push the river over its banks and flood the village, the villagers rush to collect essential belongings and their pets—which include a Golden Retriever, a Shiba Inu, a rescue skunk, and an orange tabby “with cuddling issues”—and seek refuge in the community center. From there, the pace of the story quickens, intensifying just as the weather does. And when volunteers stacking sandbags to reinforce the river bank discover a body in the shadow of Dead Man’s Leap, the resulting investigation brings Sheriff Mike Riley and amateur sleuth Bianca St. Denis together to solve the mystery. Along the way, long-buried secrets come to light which may forever alter life in the village of Batavia-on-Hudson.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book and look forward to reading more from this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. Read my complete review at https://dogmysteries.com/. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that tagging an author like the Nex XXX is meant to be as a compliment but Tina Debellegarde is an excellent author and Batavia-on-Hudson had the potential to become an excellent series, a traditional mystery that keeps the readers hooked and involves them in the solution of the mystery and the life of the inhabitants.
This is a riveting and compelling story, a story of secrets, closed environments, and mysteries.
The author did an excellent job in developing this plot. Since the first pages we know that something is going to happen but we don’t know what will happen.
I was happy to catch up with Bianca and the cast of characters. There’s an evolution and the character arc is interesting.
There’s an interesting non human character, the weather, that plays a role and Tina Bellegard did an excellent job in using the changes to mark what’s happening.
This was a book I loved and I hope to read soon other stories as they are well written and gripping.
I read this book in a sitting as it’s a page turner.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the Tina Debellegarde, Level Books, and Partner in Crime for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Lisa Wetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Man’s Leap by Tina deBellegarde is the second book in The Batavia-on-Hudson series. I did read this one as a stand-alone and it was ok but I am eager to go back and read the first one, Winter Witness. This is a very mysterious book about a small town that has all the small town experiences that you would expect. This one has so much intrigue!! There are secrets, lies, fears, murder and love all happening in this small town. Add an unavoidable storm and a dead body and you have a mysterious story!!! The characters and plot are well developed and thought out by this talented author. The ending brings on a celebration but this story does not always seem like it appears.

Thank you Partners In Crime Book Tours, Tina deBellegarde and Level Best Books for a copy of this wonderful book. My review is my unbiased view of this book.
#partnersincrimebooktours #deadmansleap #tinadebellegarde #levelbestbooks

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reaction to the first in the series was ambivalent at best. I did not see myself pursuing this series further, but for some reason, I decided to give the second one a shot, and I was really glad that I did.
One of the problems I had with the first was the pacing. This time around, since all the people and their interpersonal relationships had already been broached to some degree, I felt like the pacing improved. The latter could apply to our lead protagonist's life as well. She has been living in the same town for a while, but as long as her husband was alive, they did not venture out much to be part of the local community. Now, left alone, she is struggling to find her place in the larger picture, especially since she wants to belong.
She is known for her daring antics in solving the previous case. I would not recommend starting this without having read the first because, for once, an author writing in this genre does not go into the backstories of the people we encounter. I actually appreciated it because there were more stories to come, and if put together, it might have been a little too much to go through in one book.
This is a plot with several parts. We have Bianca with her plans for her life and fighting her attraction to the not-so-happily married sheriff, and we have one-half of the couple who run the local Inn trying to keep his past under wraps. There is also the romance or lack thereof of old friends and a lot more romantic plots that will surface by the time the plot ends.
The main mystery is of an age-old death, recently discovered and the myriad of solutions provided by multiple people. I found the way that part of the story unfolded to be the highlight of the book. It continues at the slow pace that the book maintains, but you get a feel for the people and the sense of connection that they all hold for each other.
I will not talk about the main quality that they showed because that would reveal more than I usually give away in my reviews.
I would actually recommend this series to those on the lookout for cozy mysteries whose leading lady does not fall between the spunky young returnee to town or the aged Marple-type protagonist and not featuring characters from either end of that spectrum.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your every day cozy mystery. There are multiple strands that lead to a complicated conclusion. The author does an amazing job of building the tension throughout the first half of the book.

Within the murder mystery, there is a lot about a community, which includes both the insiders and visitors. How long does it take a new member of a community to become integrated beyond the original welcome? Having to collectively work together against a flood of nature may speed up the process but such stresses also work against other long-term relationships.

Underneath the mystery plot there is a fascinating thread about what is important to people and also how people react differently to grief. All of this is interwoven into the final surprising reveal of a decades old murder. It is interesting how the title gets worked into various aspects of the plots throughout the book.

The closing scene of the wishing tree is beyond beautiful and brings a lot of closure. We all should give our white ribbon wishes to nature. For now, my wish/hope is that the author is hard at work on the third book in this fascinating series.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jumping off Dead Man’s Leap was a rite of passage at the end of the school year. Olivia was never brave enough to make that leap.

Not until she beat the scourge of cancer and decided to challenge herself. I keep going back to her Last Page essay. That essay should challenge all of us.

A planned charity auction brings out secrets as well as donations. The secrets of the small village continue to surface as the entire community ends up sheltered in the same place during a heavy storm.

Human bones and a corpse washing up manage to drag out even more secrets.

In the midst of it all people are really getting on each others nerves while Bianca and Sheriff Mike try to figure everything out.

Thank you, Ms deBellegarde, for Batavia-on-Hudson mysteries. I’ll be looking forward to your next one.

***Book provided without charge by PICT,***

[Darcia Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Man’s Leap gives us a cast of likable characters living in a quaint village in upper state New York. But as we all know, people in small towns and quaint villages harbor lots of secrets, and those secrets are often deadly.

If you’ve ever watched Midsomer Murders, the British crime series set in a small village, that’s the vibe I get from these books. The people, their entangled relationships, secrets, and challenges are central to the story. Solving the mystery relies on our understanding of the characters as all the subtleties are revealed.

This is the second Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery. While it can be read as a stand-alone, I think it works best if you start with book 1, Winter Witness, where we first meet most of the characters.

*I received an ARC as part of the Partners in Crime book tour.*

[Iphigenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel takes place in a picturesque fictional Catskill Mountains lakeside village. As the novel opens, the villagers are collecting items for their annual charity sale, dredging up memories and secrets, setting the tone for what is to come. Heavy rains threaten to flood the village so everyone brings their essentials and packs into the community center to seek refuge. Volunteers go out to stack sandbags on the riverbank and discover a body in the shallow water. Sheriff Mike Riley and librarian Bianca St. Denis pair up to investigate the mystery. Tensions rise among the villagers packed into close quarters and secrets threaten to come out. I enjoyed this mystery and felt like I got to know so many of the villagers through deft characterization.

[Carole Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s another intriguing and suspense-filled, character-driven mystery for Agatha Award nominee, Tina de Bellegarde. In her latest mystery, “Dead Man’s Leap,” the floodwaters are washing away more than material possessions. In the tiny town of Batavia-on-Hudson, relationships are put to the test, a dead body, bones and long-buried secrets from the past all threaten to alter the quaint village life.
Her main character, Bianca St. Denis is teaming up again with Sheriff Mike Riley to solve the mystery. De Bellegarde vividly sets the scene, beautifully portrays love and loss, and writes characters that jump off the page and into her reader’s hearts.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A storm and flooding threaten the village as strangers arrive for a charity auction.
Forced together, couple and friends are forced to face relationship issues. Secrets surface. Told in alternating poinrs of view this book was clear and the story easy to follow. So many entangled secrets, the tension kept building. It kept my curiosity up throughout the entire book.

I am not ususally over sensitive to pressure put on law enforcement but I really felt for Mike.

[Kevin J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Man's Leap is a cozy that makes its readers and characters feel anything but cozy at times. It teaches us that small communities can hide big secrets, and that the river that fills our lives with joy and sustenance one day will do its best to rip our souls from us the next. But Bianca, Mike, Eugene and the other townsfolk we came to love in Tina deBellegarde's debut, Winter Witness, are made of sturdy stuff. Though each faces their own loss, they also come to see how much there is to gain in picking up the pieces and moving on with their lives.

[Pat Dupuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Batavia-on-Hudson is a village where everyone knows everyone and their business. Despite that, secrets abound that manage to be kept. Community is important and people look out for each other. The characters and their problems, strengths, and weaknesses are realistically written as is village life. When death visits, the community is truly shaken. When potentially murder visits, that is something else again. I can't wait for the next book!

[Jacqueline Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Tina DeBellegarde knows how to capture the reader's attention. The narrative about a storm ravaging Batavia-on-Hudson in Dead Man's Leap had me looking out the window to check on the weather. Her descriptions of the storm, locations along the Hudson, and characters are compelling and keep the reader engaged in the story until the last page. She weaves an engaging mystery with characters grappling with the joys and sorrows of life. I highly recommend this book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Level Best Books and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Vibrant imagery, cunning characters, a story you won't want to put down. Perfectly paced, a story that will stay with you well after you finish.

[Michele Urban · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, a cast of characters that is much too large. Intertwined so randomly and unbelievably. Essentially, 3 mysterious taking place, and none of them very interesting. Too much repetition with certain phrases. And bad things done by good people that we are supposed to automatically forgive, but I do not.

[Louise Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting mix of mystery and drama as relationships are described - and tested - in a small village setting. I really enjoyed the sense of apprehension and discovery as characters rummaged through attics and found more than they expected,

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Dead Man's Leap, and it's fabulous. I'm a little teary over the ending, the community and love the characters show each other in the midst of tragedy is wonderful.

[Chris Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wait was finally over for Book 2, and it was so worth it… the twists and turns kept me on my toes! Tina had done it again! I really liked the ending, very touching… but I want more 😊

[Tara Niland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very good read I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nothing like a good rummage through an attic to come across secrets galore and that’s only the start of it..

[Marjorie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected resolution to this one. Really enjoyed it.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read full of secrets snd confessions and turmoil. Excellent!